Slant community chat on DiscourseQuestion Notes: Messaging apps are used for a vast array of reason, some for simple text communication while others for video conferencing for business on the go. Not all have the same functions, which can make it difficult to choose which is the best for a user's particular use case. Most devices nowadays come with some form of data messaging as well as cellular texting options though this may not be implemented in the best manner or the most intuitively, which is why many third parties have created their own answer to combining all functions or excelling in one.
| 39 Recommended Products | Recommendations | Media | End-to-end encryption | VoIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Telegram· · · | 78 | 5 | Images / Video / Emoji / GIFs/Stickers | Secret chats | Yes |
| #2 Hangouts· · · | 92 | 8 | images / maps / emoji / stickers / GIFs | No | Yes |
| #3 WhatsApp· · · | 71 | 19 | images, video, audio, documents | Yes | Yes |
| #4 Signal· · · | 21 | 4 | images / GIF / video / audio / emoji / geolocation / contacts | Yes | Yes |
| #5 invi· · · | 20 | 2 | images / video / audio / emoji | no | no |
| #6 Viber· · · | 42 | 11 | images / video / audio / emoji / stickers | Yes | Yes |
Pro Truly cross-platform and open API
Not only does Telegram have an Android, iOS and WP app, but it also has a client for desktops on Windows, OSX and Linux. Basically any device one owns, Telegram has a client that runs on it.
Pro Privacy focused
In addition to the end-to-end encryption that provides privacy to communications, the app also includes self destructing timers for chats, and the ability to permanently delete messages, yours and theirs, from your device.
Pro Beautiful UI
Very customizable with a lot of clean looking options.
Con Not fully open source
Telegram has an open API and protocol free for everyone, but the backend software is not open source. Therefore 100% privacy can not be evaluated.
Con Doesn't use proven encryption
Telegram uses their own proprietary encryption called MTProto. It was their own creation. It was competently created by mathematicians, but not encryption experts. It has not been proven secure.
Pro Group video support
If you have signed in your Google account, Hangouts allows making video calls with up to 10 people or one-on-one. There are business, education and government solutions that increase the participant count to for video calls to 15 as well as offers support for those accounts. Additionally, you can...
Pro Free and cross-platform
Google offers all features of Hangouts completely free on iOS, Android and web with quick and reliable sync across all platforms. It's also tightly integrated in other Google services - it can be accessed from services such as Gmail, Google+, Chrome. While the standard Hangouts offering is c...
Con Lack of end to end encryption
Communications are encrypted between client and Google servers but not from sending client to receiving client. This means that there is still a possibility for someone other than the receiver to read your message if they have access to internal Google servers. But it allows also lightweight chat...
Con Now primarily oriented towards corporate use
Hangouts is on its way out.
Pro Straightforward interface
The interface is very simple, fast and easy to use. You can start using it as soon as the app has been downloaded - it does not require setting anything up or registering. You can communicate with anyone in your contacts list that also uses WhatsApp. Includes useful features like seeing when a con...
Pro Effortlessly builds your contacts by using your phone number as identification
WhatsApp will automatically find all of your contacts currently using Whatsapp and add them to your contacts. This makes it really easy to setup and given that it's the most popular messaging app it's likely that a lot of your contacts are already using it.
Con Single device
You cannot use the same WhatsApp account on multiple devices (e.g. a tablet, a PC and a cellphone). The account is tied to the device with the specific cellphone number. Chat history is deleted when you sign in to a new account, unless you have created a backup.
Con Hard to migrate history cross platform
Migrating your chat history from Android to iOS or the other way around is not so simple. In some cases it requires a 3rd party app and in some the only way is to migrate specific chats one by one.
Pro Provides security and privacy
Signal uses an advanced end to end encryption protocol that provides privacy for every message every time.
Pro SMS/MMS support
Signal can also be your default SMS/MMS text messenger. Encryption is not possible when sending SMS to your contacts.
Con Single device
You cannot send and receive messages from multiple devices.
Con Uses message mirroring
You phone must be on and connected to the internet for Signal Desktop to work.
Pro Share and consume rich media without leaving the app
The killer feature of invi is the ability to consume media in the app. For example if someone sends you a link to a Youtube video invi automatically turns it into a playable widget. Not only can you view the media in the app, but you can also discuss the videos, photos etc while they are playing.
Pro Beautiful Interface
The apps design has a level of care and detail put into it that is rare on Android apps. The home screen is not only beautiful, but shows useful information such as the last message sent, and the status of the person. The messaging interface itself is very clean and useful. As well as the convers...
Con Registration difficult for those without a phone #
For those that do not want to share their phone number or just do not have one to share, registration for invi can not be done. This means the app cannot be registered on a tablet or media device (like an iPOD touch) unless there is a number to give, of which neither of those devices when used by...
Con Early in development
This app still has some rough edges and missing features (like group chat).
Pro No need to create an account or add contacts
One of the best things about Viber is how it handles setup and sending messages. Viber uses your existing number as your ID, so you don't need to create a separate Viber account.
Pro Desktop apps allow texting, calling and enables transferring calls between devices
Viber has native apps for both Windows and Mac that allow you to send and receive messages from your desktop. You can also use the desktop to make and receive calls. Synchronizes between all devices you are using Viber on. Allows transferring calls between devices.
Con The company evades U. S. tax
The company uses the common practice of tax haven addresses in order to avoid paying US taxes despite being registered in Delaware.
Con No web client
You cannot login from the web to send and receive messages.
Pro Open Source
Open source means anyone can contribute with a plugin for the Disa framework. In other words, there will probably be a big amount of plugins (other messaging services) soon! Right now, the Disa team is developing the Telegram plugin.
Pro Combines conversations from different services via plugins
Disa can replace WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and your default SMS, allowing you to easily change between messaging services. Disa recently went open source, which means a lot more plugins for other message services soon! As of now, the Telegram plugin is being made for Disa.
Con Uses other services
This is not a messaging service, but simply a way to use other services, like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or your carrier's SMS/MMS. So you must have accounts with those services.
Con Not pretty
It looks fine. Has some rough edges. Definitely not pretty.
Pro Sleek design
Clean, minimalist design.
Pro Allows responding to SMS without opening the app
When a new sms is received, a window will pop up that has the message and allows answering it from there, without having to open the app.
Con Only SMS / MMS
Lacks data messaging.
Pro Quick Reply
When a new message is received, a window pops up with the relevant message and allows replying from the window, without ever having to open the app.
Pro Beautiful design
Responsive, highly customizable Material Design interface makes for a native looking app that fits in well with Google's UI design guidelines.
Con Buggy
There are little annoyances here and there, from dark theme problems making text unreadable to crashing and missing notifications.
Pro Chat heads
Chat heads are a feature that allow keeping conversations above any other app.
Pro Read receipts
Users can see who has seen each message in group messages
Con Only recently encryption
Only recently integrated encryption, from a big, not open-source, giant american company.
Con No wake screen when receiving a message
When receiving messages, if your phone is locked, it won't wake the screen.
Pro Integrated with Google Assistant
Automatically shows options for restaurants/movies/etc when relevant according to the context of the conversation. It's also able to perform actions accordingly like order tickets.
Pro whisper SHOUT let's you express yourself through text size
You can easily adjust the text size to show either a whisper or a shout, adding emphasis to your messages. Simply hold the send button and slide up (to shout) or down (to whisper).
Con No web interface (yet)
Currently there is no web interface to send message using your computer. Project leads have teased screen shots of the web interface.
Con Single device
Part of reliably saying if one saw your message, and having it tied to a phone number, is that you cannot have the same Allo account on two phones.
Pro Encrypted communication
Provides complete end-to-end encryption.
Pro Registration without phone number
Registration is handled by random generated IDs. No phone number needed.
Con Not free
Unlike many other options Threema is not free as it costs $1.99 for the app.
Con Single device only
You cannot use multiple devices to send messages. However, it does have message mirroring on a web client.
Pro Cross-platform
Wire works on Android, iOS and OS X or in a browser.
Pro Calls can be moved between devices
It's possible to start a call on one device and continue it on another without interrupting it.
Con No cloud sync
When you login to a new device you have no message history. Also, messages sent while the device was off or without a data connection are not received if they were delivered to another device.
Pro Enables meeting new people
WeChat has a feature that pairs random people for a conversation. It is activated by shaking the phone (requires location sharing to be enabled) and will present a list of people who are doing the same and how far away from you they are. Another feature for meeting new people is the Friend Radar...
Pro Can be used as a Walkie Talkie
WeChat has push-to-talk functionality that can be used both one-on-one and in groups.
Con User base outside of China is comparatively small
While WeChat has over 400 million users the majority of them are in China. Adoption in other markets has been slow.
Pro Video calls
One-to-one Skype-to-Skype video calls can be made over Wi-Fi or cellular networks. You can also join ongoing group video calls with audio only, but cannot initiate group video from your mobile device.
Pro Combines cellular and data messaging
You can buy Skype Credit or sign up for a subscription to make calls and send SMS at a reduced price.
Con Bloated and unreliable
The official Skype app on Android is unreliable. Messages are often not sent, and are out of sync.
Pro Excellent multimedia support
Through Riot you can share pictures, videos, audio files, and more.
Pro You can make video and voice calls
Via this app you can set up a conference call, or make one-on-one video or voice calls.
Know any negative aspects of this option?
Pro Simple UI
Make it easy to use
Pro Offers 3 types of encryption
The app claims to be the only communication app that encrypts data in transit, on disk and on screen. Encryption in transit is used to make sure no-one can listen in on your conversations even if the traffic is going through their servers, encryption on disk is used to make sure that even if someo...
Con Many people have difficulty registering the app
Multiple people have reported not being able to receive the activation code required to register the app.
Pro Customizable
It look nice and you can customize themes and notifications.
Pro Device sync
If you install Messenger+ on your phone and another device it will sync you conversations. It's available on Android, iOS, Web and Windows.
Pro Multiple levels of encryption
Encrypted messages can only be read after verification of the computer, 2-factor authentication.
Con Some features do not work if your carrier is not Docomo/Softbank/au/Y!Mobile
Some features (ex: finding a friend by id) require a 18-year-old check. However, The 18-year-old check only works with major Japanese carriers. In particular, it does not work with MVNO carriers.
Con No cloud storage of messages
When you sign in on a device you don't have a message history, unless you performed a backup.
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